Re: Elsevier Web Editions license

[Tom Williams <twilliam@jaguar1.usouthal.edu>]

We are looking at a state-wide license which would enable participating
libraries access to ALL of the elsevier titles.  The primary stipulation
is that each library not reduce its subscriptions (or at least the amount
we spend on subs.)of Elsevier titles.  We would agree to up to 7.5%
increase in journal costs per year plus a 7.5% platform (or some such)
fee.  In other words, for an extra 15% of our current costs, we'd get ALL
of their titles online.  It sounds like the best deal from Elsevier I've
yet to see. This does not cancel the company's long-standing price
"gouging" reputation but it does show that they're beginning to wake up
and smell the coffee about the reality of life in libraries today.  The
rate of Elsevier title cancellations has been huge in recent years, a
trend that would almost certainly continue until it got to such a point
that they would have to raise prices so astronomically that NOBODY could
afford them.  Then it would be good-bye Elsevier.

As part of our license, and we are all in agreement about this,
campus-wide access is mandatory as is access by our users at some of our
other university sites - our hospitals, nursing school (of campus), etc.  
All of our users have to log-in with id's to access any of our resources.  
This would also enable us to use a proxy server to be able to authenticate
even off-campus authorized users.

If we sign on the dotted line these access questions would have to be
completely resolved to our satisfaction.


Thomas Williams, Director			
Charles M. Baugh Biomedical Library and Media 
 Production Services
University of South Alabama			twilliam@jaguar1.usouthal.edu
College of Medicine				http://southmed.usouthal.edu
BML 326B
Mobile, Alabama 36688-0002

tel. (334)460-6885
fax. (334)460-7638

__________________

On Fri, 28 Jan 2000, Hunter, Karen (ELS) wrote:

> Diana Zinnato started a discussion about the Elsevier ScienceDirect Web
> Editions license.  While I believe her specific problem has been resolved,
> I thought the readers of this list would be interested in the follow-up
> steps we have taken.
> 
> The ScienceDirect Web Editions service is a free service we provide
> institutional subscribers to most of our paper journals. The subscriber is
> entitled to online access to the most recent nine months of the journal.  
> This service is intended as a current awareness tool to complement the
> paper and satisfy certain needs of both readers and authors.  It is not
> intended to provide the searching, archiving and other enhancements of the
> full ScienceDirect service.
> 
> The tight link between paper subscription and electronic access led to
> license language that said "access is limited to the library where the
> subscribed journals are held."  Our intent was to better understand the
> relationship between subscriptions and users.  However, as Diana Zinnato
> found, this language runs counter to expectations, even for a free
> service.  That led to discussion, negotiation and stress on all sides.
> 
> After further consideration of the purpose of the service, the diversity
> of our subscribers and the desire for simplicity in a standard license, we
> have decided to experiment with removing this specific provision.  We will
> do this because we want to move to a license that is consistent with
> library practices and that can be agreed-to online (click-through),
> reducing costs on both sides.  This is particularly appropriate for a free
> service.  We trust this change -- which will be implemented shortly --
> will make access to Web Editions easier for all concerned.
> 
> Karen Hunter
> Senior Vice President
> Elsevier Science
> 
>